Waste water diffuser

ABSTRACT

This application claims a system for the distribution of waste water. The invention allows water to drain from a source into the invention, where the water is distributed and diffused through a collection of outlets. Thus a large amount of water can be distributed over a large area so that the environment can more easily absorb the water and the flow of water does not cause erosion. The preferred embodiment of the invention optionally may include one or more filters to remove substances from the water before distribution.

PRIORITY

This continuation in part application claims the benefit of patentapplication Ser. No. 13/726,910 that was filed on Dec. 26, 2012, that inturn claims the benefit of provisional application, Ser. No. 61/584,119,that was filed on Jan. 6, 2012 by the inventor Stan Greberis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for handlingwaste water and, more particularly, to a waste water diffuser that mayprevent waste water from causing soil erosion, being discharged into apublic storm water systems, sanitary sewers, or waterways.

When a person faces a task of getting rid of excess, unwanted water, forexample water from a basement sump or water from a pool, the water istypically carried by a hose or pipe to be released. Often, a largerelease of water may cause soil erosion. To avoid this type of erosion,a person may opt to disburse the water into a public storm water systemdown their driveway into a street drain or a sanitary sewer system.These types of releases may be harmful to the environment and areillegal in many jurisdictions. This is especially true in the case ofpool water, which may contain certain chemicals.

As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus for diffusing anddistributing wastewater to avoid erosion and the delivery of wastewaterinto inappropriate channels. The present invention distributeswastewater quickly, yet at a slow enough rate to avoid erosion. Thus thewastewater can be discharged into a yard or field, which will absorb thewater and yet not damage the yard or field. This is advantageous becauseerosion is avoided and water is disposed of with entering a public rightof way or sewer system. Furthermore, the water can benefit local plantsand the ground will act as a natural water purification system.

There is a superficial similarity between certain septic systems andcertain irrigation system to the present invention. On closerinspection, the present invention is distinct from either an irrigationsystem or a septic system. The present invention specifically addressesthe disposal of waste water from swimming pools and other containers ofwater that do not have a permanent waste water disposal system. Thepresent invention is intended to be temporarily attached to a swimmingpool, or other water container, and remove the water in a manner that ismore convenient and more environmentally responsible that simply lettingthe water pour on to the ground, road, or sewer. At the same time, thepresent invention is only intended for use on water that can be disposedof on open ground. Water that is hazardous should not be used with thepresent invention.

The application by Hassett, Ser. No. 10/663,211, is a septic system thatis distinct from the present invention. Hassett describes an improvedseptic system for disposing of sewage. As a person skilled in the artknows, sewage is both contaminated with solids and particulate matterand contaminated with biological pathogens. As Hassett describes, afunctioning septic system must both remove these contaminates anddisperse the wastewater into the ground in a manner that does not riskhuman contact. Failure of a septic system to achieve these goals is bothdangerous to human health and illegal.

For this reason, the Hassett invention claims the placement of theinvention into a drain field. Hassett describes as drain field as aSWIS, the SWIS (also called a leach field, drain field or infiltrationtrench. Hassett describes a SWIS as a soil absorption field, a soilabsorption field, also known as a subsurface wastewater infiltrationsystem. By definition, the SWIS is subsurface or below the ground. Thusthe Hassett invention must be buried in order to include the drain fieldelement.

On the other hand, the present invention is designed to be placed uponthe ground and distribute water on top of the surface of the ground. Inthe present invention wastewater is ejected from the invention so thatit flies up into the air and then falls back to earth in a manner thatsimulates rainfall. The purpose of this arrangement is that thewastewater is distributed over top the ground so that it does not causeerosion. It is meant to be used in situations where allowing thewastewater to exist the existing source will cause erosion because theforce of the exiting water will damage the soil of the ground. Thepresent invention reduces that force by launching the water into the airand allowing it fall back to the ground at a velocity and force that issimilar or less than that of rain. As a person skilled in the art isaware that falling rain does not have enough force to cause erosion.

Furthermore, because the present invention is distributing the water inthe open air, the water must be substantially free of solids,particulate matter, and pathogens before it enters the presentinvention. Solids and particulate matter will both clog the presentinvention and will reduce the pressure within the present invention to alevel that will not eject the water into the air so that it can fallback to the ground to simulate rain fall. This will defeat the mainadvantage of this invention. And, unlike sewage, the wastewater placedwithin the present invention must also be substantially pathogen free,or operation of the present invention would be a danger to human healthand illegal.

The Gilde patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,184,789, is another water treatmentsystem that is constructed into a dirt mound. The mound is created froma surface area comprising a plurality of concentric annular terracescreating a series of annular ridges and valleys in said treatment zone,a water-tolerant grass crop growing on said terraces. Water is pumped onto the terraces by a conduit adapted for movement around said treatmentzone that are adapted to be capable of delivering wastewater underpressure to said conduit, and means on said conduit for distributing asubstantially uniform quantity of wastewater to the grass crop on eachof said terraces. The present invention is not meant to be installed inthe ground or constructed from earthworks. The present invention isdistinct from the mound filtration system that Gilde describes.

An example of an irrigation system that is superficially similar to thepresent invention is the Hait U.S. Pat. No. 4,232,705. The Haitinvention is a rotary irrigation system that turns mechanically so thata power mover connected to the opposite end of some tubing to pivotallymove tubing in a generally circular path around a source. The powermover is connected to a control means for intermittently actuating saidpower mover. The present invention is a non-mechanical means of removingwastewater. It does not rotate and is not intended to water a largefield of corps. It is intended to be simple to manufacture and portable.

The Hewitt U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,076, is another irrigation system. TheHewitt invention is a device to collect and dispense roof rain watercomprising a container to collect water having an opening; a pump todrive the water out of the container; a debris disposal mechanism; asensor to measure the water level, wherein the pump is activated at aspecific water level. It includes an electrical circuit to power thepump which is powered by a rechargeable battery pack; a solar panelconnected to the electrical circuit to charge the rechargeable batterypack; a heating device to keep the water within the container fromfreezing. This invention collects water in a container and then storesit for distribution, even in freezing weather. The present invention isa means for the distribution, not a means of storage.

The Runyon invention, U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,068, is another irrigationsystem. It is an apparatus for providing improved microbiotic andnutrient supplies to vegetation in a non-sterilized environment; whichcomprises vessels containing water slurries of an oxygen-generatingfirst microorganism, a soil enhancing second microorganism, and enzymesand nutrients for the first and second microorganisms. It has a firstconduit to convey supply water and said slurries into said at least oneenhancement vessel and a second conduit means to convey the combineddischarge slurry containing said concentrated first and secondmicroorganisms from said enhancement vessel to said vegetation. Thepresent invention only disposes of water. It does not add material tothe water nor does it supply nutrients to plants.

The Hardison U.S. Pat. No. 2,910,500, is for a drip irrigation system.The Hardison invention, like all drip irrigation systems, envisions abranching set of tubes that distribute water to each plant individually.The present invention is a compact object that does not branch ordivide. Furthermore, unlike a drip irrigation system that allows waterto slowly dissipate, the present invention can accommodate manydifferent levels of flow and is intended to distribute water reasonablyquickly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a water distribution system according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the water distribution system according toanother exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the interior of the water distributionsystem.

FIG. 4 is another detailed view of the interior of the waterdistribution system.

FIG. 5 is another detailed view of the interior of the waterdistribution system.

FIG. 6 is another detailed view of the interior of the waterdistribution system.

FIG. 7 is another detailed view of the interior of the waterdistribution system.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the flow of water through the waterdistribution system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a waterdistribution system that may discharge wastewater into the surroundingsoil without creating soil erosion. The water distribution system maycreate a fountain-like or sprinkler-like distribution of wastewater overa substantial ground surface area, permitting the water to soak into thesoil rather than run over the top of the soil, which leads to erosion.

Referring to FIG. 1, a water distribution system may be a fountain-typesystem where tubing may carry water from a source to a series ofperforations in the pipe that distribute the water from the tubing in afountain-like distribution. An example of a source, intended as anexample and not has a limitation, is a pool water pump. The perforationsmay be distributed along the tubing such that there is little or nooverlap from the spray from one of the perforations to the spray of anadjacent perforation.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the water distribution system comprises apool pump or filter 15 connected to a supply tube 10. The supply tube 10is connected to a distribution tube 1. On the distribution tube 1 is aplurality of distribution openings 5. FIG. 1 shows the distributionopenings 5 as holes. FIG. 2 shows the distribution openings 5 assprinklers.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3 shows a top view of the water distributionsystem with supply tube 10 connected to and entering distribution tube1. Supply tube 10 is then inside the distribution lumen 3 of thedistribution tube 1, forming inner tube 2 that is substantially parallelto the distribution tube. The distribution tube 1 also has distributionopenings 5. The water 6 travels in the supply lumen 4 of the supply tube10, through inner tube 2, then into the distribution lumen 3 of thedistribution tube 1. The water 6 is then distributed out of the systemby the distribution openings 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 4 is a detailed drawing of the junctionbetween the supply tube 10 and the distribution tube 1. At the pointwhere supply tube 10 meets distribution tube 1, the two tubes are joinedand reinforced by a collar or funnel 9. The funnel 9 creates an openinginto the inner tube 2, which is itself an extension of the supply tube10. The inner tube 2 contains a filter 7 in the supply lumen of thesupply tube 10 in the part of the supply tube 10 that is also the innertube 2. In the preferred embodiment, the filter 7 comprises carbonparticles. These filter 7 particles are held in place by a mesh 8. Thusthe water 6 can flow from the supply tube 10, past the funnel 9, intothe inner tube 2, which is in turn in the distribution lumen 3 of thedistribution tube 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is a detailed drawing of the outlet 11between the inner tube 2 and the distribution tube 1. Distribution tube1 has distribution openings 5. Water 6 travels through supply lumen 4and crosses outlet 11 to enter distribution lumen 3 and then exitdistribution tube 1 through distribution openings 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is a cross section of the water distributionsystem. Distribution tube 1 has distribution lumen 3 and distributionopening 5. Within the distribution lumen 3 is inner tube 2. Inner tube 2contains supply lumen 4, which is a continuation of the supply tube 10,not pictured. Inner tube 2 has outlet 11. Outlet 11 comprises aplurality of outlet openings 12. Filter 7 is located in distributionlumen 3. Distribution tube 1 also has a drain 13. In this version, theposition of outlet 11 and filter 7 is at the bottom of distributionlumen 3, so that water 6 must travel down through outlet 11 and filter 7and then up to distribution openings 5.

Referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a cross section of the water distributionsystem. Distribution tube 1 has distribution lumen 3 and distributionopening 5. Within the distribution lumen 3 is inner tube 2. Inner tube 2contains supply lumen 4, which is a continuation of the supply tube 10,not pictured. Inner tube 2 has outlet 11. Outlet 11 comprises aplurality of outlet openings 12. Filter 7 is located in distributionlumen 3. Filter 7 is held in place by flanges 14. Distribution tube 1also has a drain 13. In this version, the position of outlet 11 andfilter 7 is at the top of distribution lumen 3, so that water 6 musttravel up through outlet 11 and filter 7 and then up to distributionopenings 5.

Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the flow of waterthrough the water distribution system. FIG. 8 compares the presentinvention to a hypothetical standard arrangement and shows the flow ofwater through each system. Image 2 and 3 of the FIG. 8 show a side andfront view of the flow of water through the water distribution system.

While FIG. 1 shows a rectangular distribution area, the tubing may bearranged in any number of patterns. The size of the perforations may bedetermined through a variety of factors, such as the type of soil, theamount of water typically distributed through the system on a singletime, the pressure of the water within the tubing during thedistribution process, and the like. Typically, the number ofperforations and the size thereof will be adequate to distribute/diffusethe wastewater while permitting the water to be absorbed into the soil,without causing soil erosion. In the preferred embodiment, thedistribution tube will be circular in shape. The circular shape ispreferable because it promotes even distribution of the water, and isascetically pleasing. Other embodiments are also functional and may beadvantageous in cases where the desired distribution of water is uneven.Other embodiments of the water distribution system can also be a be athree-dimensional shape, such as a box, pyramid, ball or any other shapethat will capture the water and then allow for the escape through theupper and side perforations and/or attachments, such as sprinkler heads,while including a modest amount of perforations on the bottom to allowthe unit to self drain. Each of these three-dimensional versions canhave a modified bottom so that the water distribution system can beplaced stability on a surface, such as making the bottom of a ball flat.

The tubing may be typical plumbing tubing and may include PVC, metal, orother materials. For example, the tubing leading from the wastewatersource (such as a pool), may be collapsible flexible drain tubing,permitting easy storage thereof. The distribution portion of the tubingmay be the same or different material as the tubing connecting the watersource (pool) to the distribution portion. In some embodiments, thedistribution portion may be rigid tubing, which may ensure alignment ofthe perforations, or distribution openings 5, perpendicular to theground.

Referring to FIG. 2, in place of the distribution opening 5, sprinklerheads may be fluidly connected to the distribution tube 1 to permit thewastewater 6 to be distributed over a larger surface area.

In some embodiments, the system of the present invention may be suppliedas a kit. The kit may include tubing to connect the distribution systemto the pump and distribution tubing having a water distributing means,such as perforations or sprinkler heads, as described above. The kit maysupply the distribution tubing in various pieces and may include avariety of connectors so that a user may create their own pattern forwater distribution. For example, the kit may include various pieces ofperforated pipe along with elbows, tees, and the like. The fittings maybe quick release fittings, permitting the user to quickly assemble anddisassembly the system of the present invention.

The filter 7 may be made of any filtering material, including foams,mesh, ceramics, and absorbent particles. In the preferred embodiment,the filter 7 is made of carbon particles that are larger than any exitto the inner tube 2. In some cases the carbon particles will be heldinto place by a mesh 8 or a flange 14.

In some embodiments, the distribution tube 1 has one or more drains 13.The drains 13 are placed on the bottom portion of the distribution tube1. The purpose of the drains 13 is to drain any water trapped orremaining in the distribution tube 1 so that the distribution tube 1 isdry for storage. Furthermore, standing water is a known vector forinsect larvae growth. The drains, 13 will allow the operator to drainthe distribution tube 1 to reduce the growth of insect larvae.

In some embodiments, the filter 7 is external to the distribution tube1. In this case, the filter 7 is placed before or within supply tube 10and before the junction between supply tube 10 and distribution tube 1.In other embodiments, the filter 7 is not included in the apparatus. Inthis embodiment, the water 6 will pass through the distribution tube 1and inner tube 2 without being filtered.

The preferred embodiment envisions the use of the wastewater drainagesystem to distribute unneeded pool water. The wastewater drainage systemcan also be used to drain rain and other runoff water. The wastewaterdrainage system can be attached to a sink, tube, or tank drain. Thewastewater drainage system can be attached to a gutter or downspout. Thesystem can be used in landscaping and construction site applications.

The invention envisions use with water that is substantially free ofsolids and particulate matter. In the preferred embodiment, thewastewater will be substantially free of solids and particulate matter,such as pool water or rainwater. Alternatively, the wastewater will havesolids and particulate matter removed from the water before the water isdelivered to the supply tube 10. In addition, the wastewater isenvisioned as being substantially free of pathogens and dangerouschemicals before the wastewater is delivered to the supply tube 10.

The purpose of the invention is to distribute wastewater over an areawith out inducing erosion of the surface of the area. The preferred useof the invention is as a means to dispose of waste water from a commonsource, such as a swimming pool, pond or rain gutter by distributing thewaste water in the air so that is spread over an area of ground andabsorbed by the ground without causing erosion of the soil or sand thatcomprises the ground. As an example and not meant as a limitation in anyway, the invention could be used to drain the water from a swimming poolinto a garden when the pool is being drained for winter.

In order for the invention to distribute the waste water, but avoidcausing erosion, the water must be ejected from the invention withenough force to distribute the water over a reasonably wide area, butgently enough so that when it hits the ground, the ground does notsuffer from erosion. This is achieved by sending the waste water intothe supply tube 10 at a sufficient amount of pressure. This pressure canbe generated with a mechanical pump or by placing the invention at alower altitude than the source of the wastewater and using the potentialenergy of gravity to general pressure in the water.

The water is then ejected from the distribution tube 1 at a pressurethat relates to the pressure of the water as it entered the supply tube10. The ejection pressure must be sufficient to propel the water againstthe direction of gravity into the air so that it will scatter over anarea similar to or larger than the area covered by the invention. Thewater will rise to a height determined by the ejection pressure so thatthe greater the ejection pressure, the higher the water will travel intothe air. In the preferred embodiment, the water will travel three to tenfeet into the air.

The water will create a parabola as it travels through the air. It willstop traveling upward at the vertex of the parabola and begin to descendat the normal acceleration of gravity. This will allow the water to beintroduced to the supply tube 10 at a certain pressure, but to land onthe surface around the invention at the same velocity regardless of theinitial pressure. This will insure that velocity is low enough that itwill not cause erosion when the water strikes the surface. In effect,the water will strike the surface at a level of force that is similar toor less than the force of a raindrop. Since force is acceleration timemass, the acceleration of the waste water once it begins to descend fromthe vertex of the parabola will the acceleration of gravity, which isthe same acceleration as a rain drop. Furthermore, the scattering effectof the ejection of the water from the distribution tube 1 will result inthe formation of small spheres of water that are approximately the samemass as a rain drop. Since both the acceleration and the mass of thewater will be similar to that of rain, the water will behave like rainwhen it strikes the surface around the invention. Since rain does noterode soil or sand, neither will the invention.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water distribution system comprising: wastewater that is provided by a source and is substantially free ofparticulate matter and is provided from the source at a certainpressure; an assembly comprising a supply tube and a distribution tube;the supply tube for carrying the waste water from the source to thedistribution tube; one or more of distribution outlets in thedistribution tube, the distribution outlets adapted to distribute thewastewater over a surface; the supply tube integrates into thedistribution tube and includes an outlet on the supply tube that allowswater within the supply tube to leave the supply tube and enter thedistribution tube; the outlet comprises one or more openings that aresized to prevent back flow of water; so that the waste water enters thesupply tube at the certain pressure and is distributed to thedistribution tube and released by the distribution tube so that thewaste water is distributed over a surface at a pressure that is withinthe range of having sufficient force to propel the waste water avertical distance from the distribution system and lacking sufficientforce to induce erosion of soil when the waste water lands on thesurface.
 2. A water distribution system comprising: waste water that isprovided by a source and is substantially free of particulate matter andis provided from the source at a certain pressure; an assemblycomprising a supply tube and a distribution tube; the supply tube forcarrying the waste water from the source to the distribution tube;wherein the supply tube extends within the lumen of the distributiontube so that the supply tube and the distribution tube are substantiallyparallel; and the supply tube has an outlet with one or more openingsthat allows water to move from the supply tube to the inside of thedistribution tube without back flow of the water into the supply tube;and the distribution tube has one or more distribution outlets; and thedistribution outlets adapted to distribute the wastewater over asurface, the surface comprising a mixture of soil, sand, or soil andsand; so that water may enter the water distribution system by thesupply tube, then enter the distribution tube and leave the distributiontube by the distribution outlets so that the water is distributed anddispersed over an relatively large area; so that the waste water entersthe supply tube at the certain pressure and is distributed to thedistribution tube and released by the distribution to so that the wastewater is distributed over a surface at a pressure that is within therange of having sufficient force to propel the waste water a distanceinto the air and away from the distribution system so that the wastewater forms a parabola and descends towards the surface at a level offorce that is substantially similar or less than the force of a raindrop so that the waste water will not induce erosion of soil and sandwhen the waste water lands on the surface.